FAA Announces their rules for radio controlled aircraft

[Xpress]

Here is the main points:

• Registration is required for: small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms).
• Under this rule, any owner of a small UAS who has previously operated an unmanned aircraft exclusively as a model aircraft prior to December 21, 2015, must register no later than February 19, 2016.
• Owners of any other UAS purchased for use as a model aircraft after December 21, 2015 must register before the first flight outdoors.
• Owners may register through a web-based system at www.faa.gov/uas/registration.
• Registrants will need to provide their name, home address and e-mail address. Upon completion of the registration process, the web application will generate a Certificate of Aircraft Registration/Proof of Ownership that will include a unique identification number for the UAS owner, which must be marked on the aircraft.
• Owners using the model aircraft for hobby or recreation will only have to register once and may use the same identification number for all of their model UAS. The registration is valid for three years.
• The normal registration fee is $5, but in an effort to encourage as many people as possible to register quickly, the FAA is waiving this fee for the first 30 days (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016).

Yeah, I fail to see how they will have the manpower to enforce this...

 

[thurmma]

I think I will refer them to my AMA number and say "Have a nice day!"

 

[Xpress]

I think I will refer them to my AMA number and say "Have a nice day!"

Same here, congress already passed a law years ago that says the FAA has no authority over recreational model aircraft.

 

[Robbins]

laws are made to be broken, i guess?

 

[Bartman]

I'm trying to get a special episode of "Drone" Radio Live spooled up to discuss this. Right now we're tentatively scheduled to go live at 9:30 EST tonight. The link to tune in will be
www.youtube.com/user/multirotorforums/live

 

[Xpress]

FAA MODERNIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2012


SEC. 336. SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the incorporation of unmanned aircraft systems into Federal Aviation Administration plans and policies, including this subtitle, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft, or an aircraft being developed as a model aircraft, if— (

1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use;

(2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization;

(3) the aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety program administered by a community-based organization;

(4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft; and

(5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior notice of the operation (model aircraft operators flying from a permanent location within 5 miles of an airport should establish a mutually-agreed upon operating procedure with the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport)).

(b) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to pursue enforcement action against persons operating model aircraft who endanger the safety of the national airspace system.

(c) MODEL AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘model aircraft’’ means an unmanned aircraft that is—

(1) capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere

(2) flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft; and

(3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes.

Case closed, FAA needs to go back inside of their fence.

 

[garlandk]

FAA does this all the time with manned aircraft... Nothing new.

 

[ericb]

Just curious, how does this really affect us in a negative way? Flame suit on.

 

[Bartman]

If the FAA does nothing more than this than it might not affect us very much at all. If they start charging for aircraft registrations then it becomes a nuisance. Worse though, if this is just a first step and the registration requirements become more complex and/or restrictive for hobby users then there's no telling what we'll be dealing with.

What is bad about this is the group that the FAA called upon to draft recommendations and that the FAA acted opposite to what everyone thought was a clear mandate from Congress to not apply any new laws to recreational unmanned aircraft operators.

 

[witchfingers]

So let me get this straight......I have to have a license to fly an rc plane, and it costs me money?